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DH in Carolina

Member
Question, I have a ton truck with a gross vehicle weight of 14,250 lbs. Can I legaly cross a state line for a agriculture purpose? I was harrassed in Virginia by Dot man last weekend. He said I had to have USDOT number. NC says I don't have to have one. I don't mind getting a DOT number but that makes me a interstate carrier and I have to have drug testing, safety checks, and other records. I Understand that if I am in business hauling material for a job than I would fall under USDOT regulations. Thanks DH
 
My interpretation of the law reads only if you are a business do you need a DOT number, sounds like they were messin with ya.
 
I have a ton truck, and I can go anywhere I want to, under the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution. So I'm guessing that the unstated fact is that you have something less than a "regular" license on the truck. Am I right?
 
Hey Mike I have a standard NC weighted tag for 16,000 lbs on this truck. I happened upon a road ckeck and I think he had nothing else to do. He kept me for almost one hour and did a truck inspection but could find no defects. I couldn't believe that every light burned on the truck. He even crawled under the truck. DH
 
Too many of these guys just messing with folks, with no basis. Trouble is, unless they cite you (which you could easily beat in court), there's not much you can do at the time. Don't you just love useless bureaucrats?
 
He wrote up a safety inspection on me but did not cite me for anything. He also said that I had to have a medical card but I don't think that is true. You are supposed to have one if you are CDL, Hauling hazmat or hauling over 15 people. I don't think they even know the laws but you can't argue with them. DH
 
Hello DH,
From what you said ,youshould not need a DOT #.
It applies to a hauler that is picking up a load in one state and delivery is in another.
CDL holder need to have a phisical every 2 years and carry a current medical card with the cdl.
Guido.
 
If your over 10000 pounds and cross a state line with the intent of making money in your truck,your commercial and under dot regulations.
Agriculture is not exempt.Pioneer seed has dot numbers on there 1 ton pickup trucks just to deliver seed.
 
You don"t need a CDL if you are under 26,000 pounds gross weight I don"t think that you need DOT numbers. You go by your home states laws.
 
Hey GUIDO He said that because the GVW of the truck is over 10,001 lbs, it is a commerical vehicle and I need a Dot number if I cross a state line. I think it is a pain in the axs that you can't own and drive a personal truck without being hassled. About 4 years ago I paid a $385.00 ticket in the same truck in Maryland because of no log book, no name on the truck, and no Dot number. I pulled into a weigh station but should have drove by it. I was empty. DH
 
My box truck is registered in a company name.Has a GVWR of 14,500 lbs.We are required to have a DOT number and a medical card.Do not have to have a CDL for the weight.

Vito
 
To the best of my knowledge.

Pretty sure....10,000 lbs is the cutoff for a DOT number but only if it is for commercial purposes and your plate would dictate this. If it is not registered commercial then no DOT number needed. He treated your vehicle as a commercial vehicle by the fact he conducted a safety inspection. In a lot of states a cop cannot perform such an inspection but must call an RMV officer. There is even some obscure law where the small federal inspection sticker on the side of the truck can be used in place of the DOT number.

You do need a medical card if you are driving a commercial plated vehicle over 10,000lbs. To be honest I cannot remember if it is GVWR or actual weight at the time you are driving. If it is private plates you need no medical card.

If you are driving a truck with commercial plates and towing more then 10,000 lbs then you need a Class A CDL and of course the medical card.

Any non-combination vehicle with commercial plates 26,000 lbs or more needs a Class B. Combinations with commercial plates obviously need a Class A.

Most of the laws for smaller commercial vehicles (under 26,000lbs, even towing small trailers over 10,000lb) are overlooked. To have a cop pull you over with private plates is just pure uneducated BS. Not sure in your state but here they cannot site a CDL vehicle unless they are a CDL trained enforcement officer and they are very rare.

You just ran into a cop trying to flex his muscles.

I talked to a couple of people asking why they had "Not for Hire" on the side of their truck as there is no law requiring such. Answer I got is it shows the officer that you know the rules and not to screw with them. I am sure it works. Had you known the laws surrounding your circumstance better I am sure the officer would of left you alone.


From what I know and I might be completely wrong but there is nothing an officer can do with the DOT number. There is no system to see if it is a legit number or such as each state controls the issuing of such numbers and they are not connected.
 
Hello ChrisB Thanks for the information. I feel the same way as you do and I have read all the rules from the USDOT web site and some are not very clear. I am not going to get a dot number and will wait till I am hassled again. DH
 
Virginia is not a very friendly state to drive in.. The police really like to harrass out of state drivers. Odd part is, violations from other states must not transfer back to Va. drivers.. Some the rudest, most agressive drivers I see are from Va.

During the hour the officer was checking you, I wonder how many drunks, druggies, and how much illegal contraband went by???
 
DH I live on the other side of Virginia from you on the West Virginia side and the Virginia DOT is trying to pull the same crap up here. They are just a money hungry bunch of SOB's. They have not got me yet, but they will and I am ready for them. I have done a lot of research on this subject and I've got my paperwork and my lawyer ready and when they pull me we are going to make a trip to the judge and see who is right and who is wrong.They think they are the law, judge, jury ,and excutioner all in one on the side of the road and no one will question their authority, WRONG, I will.I would like to know how they can call my daily driver, a 1 ton Dodge ,that I drive to the store to get my groceries or wherever I choose a Commercial vehicle.I don't happen to have a Cadillac in the driveway.
 
DH if your plates are not commercial then I would defiantly not get a DOT number as it might draw more suspension. If anything put "Not for Hire" on the door.

The laws are not really that clear. One of those; ask four officers to explain the law and you get four different answers. I think this is why some states require CDL training of their officers.

A good test question for any cop:

What if I am driving a vehicle with private plates with a trailer and Bobcat. The trailer has commercial plates. This came about from a case I read where a person borrowed a Bobcat from a friend who owns a company with such equipment. He borrowed the equipment and trailer to work on his own yard (hence not engaged in commerce). Case was thrown dismissed as the laws apparently never target such a combination (as I understand it).
 
In ohio all trailers over 4000 pounds are lisenced commercial,you can't get farm tags.
 
Agreed.This is the United States Of America but yet its like living in 50 different countries.Every state has different rules and regulations.You should be able to go anywhere in the US under the same rules.

Why should crossing a state line make you a commercial vehicle that requires a DOT #..Why do some states classify anything over 10,001 a commercial vehicle even though we haul our own stuff and dont run a business.

The DOT has been granted far too much power and they love to harass people.I live 20 miles from a state line and the DOT guy in the first town over the line loves to bother anyone from out of state..Do we have any input in all their stupid rules?Its almost like they want us all just to stay at home and not haul anything.
 
Thats not true.Any vehicle with a GVW rating over 10,000 lbs needs a DOT number,even if you are a private carrier(hauling your own items)go to www.fmcsa.dot.gov.And search for what is a DOT number question.I would post the link,but it says I am not allowed to here.Its an old law but is now getting enforced due to some states needing the revenue.
 
If he was telling you some Federal Law he has to have a FMSVA patch on his arm.Those guys usually are good at their job,but dont give you a lot of slack.Some State DOT cops are mouthy and after money.

I drove big rigs so I dont know about the laws for a smaller truck like that.I thought you had to gross 26000 before you needed to mess with all of that stuff,But Im probably wrong.

I have read that a DOT cop had to have that FMSVA or whatever patch it is ,to inspect you,but somebody told me thats not true since there are State and City DOT cops.I dont know how much authority City DOT have but State DOT can write you tickets for different laws than Federal.Especially weight tickets since State weight laws are different on different roads.

If you were on an Interstate then the cop would need to be a Federal DOT.Every state has some Federal DOT who are usually at Interstate scales,or at least some of the cops at the scale house should be Feds with the patch on the sleeve.Not that it will get you off the hook because the State DOT can still write you a ticket.Plus some roads,even if they are an Interstate are also State roads.So then a State cop with the patch on his sleeve can write you a ticket for breaking State laws and Federal laws on the same road.

I know a lot of people have DOT numbers on company pickups and stuff now days.I also know things have changed over the years so its hard to say whether you need a DOT number or not.The best thing to do would be call some State people who do commercial license plates and ask them what the law says and where you can find it so you can get a copy of it to read yourself.Then you will know.You need to know the Federal Law about a DOT number,and you need to know if any states require you to have it with the license of your vehicle.If they say you dont,then you dont,but then that cop is probably going to write you a ticket if he catches you again.Thats the bad thing about them,the law says what the DOT says it says,and if he is wrong,he is still right.
 
You hung yourself when you said the truck is used for "agriculture purpose". You need a DOT #.

The way the law is set up........
Any truck used that has a potential for profit; crosses a state line; and weighs over 10,000 lbs needs a DOT #.
Grass cutter; private carrier; farmer; for hire carrier; ANY TRUCK.
You do not have to be getting a check for hauling something to make a profit. Haul a cow to a sale barn in the next state and you just made a potential profit and need a DOT #.

The only way you can cross a state line with a truck that weighs over 10,000 lbs is if it is used as a private vehicle for personal use only.

Gross or have tags for 26,000 lbs or more an cross a state line and you better have a IRP tag with each state you travel in listed on the registration.

To many guys are in a part time small business trying to ride just under the radar by calling them self personal. It is starting to catch up with them.
 
John, a friend of mine that hauls a few machines per month (local, 20 miles or so) decided that he would go ahead and comply and become fully legal. To get all the insurance, paperwork, etc... He realized that it will cost him more than he can take in.. He is better off staying home watching TV or sitting in a bar..

Meanwhile, there is a guy that runs around here in an Old Nissan truck, with a big skid steer on a single axle trailer with the tires spraddled out at least 10 degrees.. Word has it that they cannot touch him since his trailer and load is under 10K.. But the cops sure do give the duallys and goosenecks a hard time..
 
But every state is different. Here in MN, neighobrs drive semis with their own grain on the class D licence, no medical card.

There is no rhyme or reason to any of this DOT stuff, it's just a mish mash of laws to catch a person one way or another....

--->Paul
 
In Minn the license tag weight does not enter into determining whether or not the vehicle is a commercial vehicle. Weight is the greater of the manufacturers Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or the loaded gross weight. Over 26,000 lbs is the intrastate limit, over 10,000 lbs is the interstate limit. Towing a trailer that puts the combination over 10,000 lbs can make both truck and trailer commercial vehicles when you cross a state line.

A vehicle is a motorized vehicle that carries people, goods, or hazardous materials that are required to be placarded. The is no weight requirements for vehicles that fall into the hazardous materials class.

A vehicle must be used in commerce to be classed as a commercial vehicle. Used in commerce had been defined to include things like fishing contests, stock car racing, tractor pulls, selling at flea markets, or anything where prizes are awarded that have more than a token value like ribbons and trophies. You do not have to win, only participate in the event to fit into the commercial vehicle definition.
 
Simplifying these laws would increase compliance and decrease the revenue stream. It is more about money than safety.
 
Mostly what you stated is totally wrong.Any vehicle that crosses state lines over 10,000 lbs gross is required to have a DOT number on its door.And if you don't think State Cops can enforce the DOT Number law then try going thru VA
or WVA on I81 and you'll find out differently and the judge will make it stick.
 
USDOT #'s are registered to applicant. Federal database shows registration and insurance information as well as safety information about the registrant. They are really good to have and will actually keep you out of trouble and get you a break in a lot of cases.
 
the DOT # is going to replace the MC # and that is why they are trying to get everyone numbered up. Even owner/operators leasing to a company now must have their own DOT # and must run both #'s on their truck.
 
(quoted from post at 08:57:25 05/06/10) Mostly what you stated is totally wrong.Any vehicle that crosses state lines over 10,000 lbs gross is required to have a DOT number on its door.
Click to expand...

Stop putting out false information. If what you said where true we would see every motor home, F250 and F350 with DOT numbers. Just not true.
 
Stuart,, Bring your ag plated vehicle on down to Tenn. farmer can get buy with about any thing but you are required to have a DOT if you are from out of state...I live and farm onyl 9 miles from state line and a lot of us swap work back and forth across the line but the boys from KY
have a DOT number and apportioned plates to keep legal.
 
You need to read the law.#1 Motor homes do not carry a gross weight desination like a truck and are exempt.#2 Any vehicle that is licensed over 10,000lbs F250 and F350 included are required to have a US DOT number if they cross state lines.In PA if your truck is licensed over 17,000
the driver has to have a medical card and carry a log book.Lots of these laws have been around awhile just not enforced.VA,WVA,MD and PA are enforcing them now.
 
Commercial vehicles are different from regular vehicles.Also I would not bet that you actually need 2 DOT numbers.I had a truck leased and did not need but one.

Cops will lie to you.Trouble is though how do you find out?Maybe call OOIDA. 1-800-444-5791.They might know and if they dont they might know who to call in Washington DC to find out.

You do what you have to do to get away from a cop,but dont ever believe a cop.Yeah they are a little worse,the DOT,and can make it hard on you,but it still doesnt mean that they are right.

Commercial laws are different.Im probably wrong again,but my guess is that if you did need a MC number,or ICC number,then you need a DOT number.Otherwise I doubt it.
 
I would not bet that a State cop or even a Judge is the last word on Federal DOT regulations.If you are some big company you have lawyers that work all the time on this kind of crap.The reason is that if you win,it saves you money.Some poor individual might not be able to afford an attorney and they just rob him because he cant defend himself or doesnt want to go to court and all of that stuff.

So if you are going to just pay the fine,then the cop and Judge will get away with robbing you.If you can fight them and they have to prove thats what the law says then things might be different.
 
It use to be that every truck with operating authority (ICC) had to put the MC# on the side of the truck.
They changed the law years ago since many trucks do not need operating authority to require all trucks to put the DOT# on the side of the truck.

These are different #'s with different uses. A DOT # is needed by all haulers (private; farmer; for hire) and is just a way for the government to track different companies. If you are every in a accident they want your DOT #. In fact you can look up different companies track record online by using their DOT #. It will list all their accidents; how many trucks and drivers they have; etc............

The MC# as it was listed on the side of the truck because all the numbers started with MC is really a ICC #. This is a number given to for hire carriers. Operating authority dictates what loads may and may not be hauled by a company. Its like a license to do business.

Both the numbers are still needed if you fit the category just you only need to put the DOT # on the truck. A truck leased to a company can use that companies Operating authority (ICC#) and DOT#.
 
As I said below,just because a cop on the side of the road tells you something does not make it true.I doubt that a non commercial vehicle,like a F250 OR F350 has to have a DOT number.The FEDERAL DOT does not change.The State DOT might say something but he cant make you do something with a Federal Law.So unless the Federal law says you have to have a DOT number,Pennsylvania and the medical card and log book is pure crap.Its a cop scam it sounds like to me.Im not a DOT cop,or lawyer or anything,but I dont believe any of that at all,Especially if it came out of a cops mouth.

I know some of those states can be nightmares with their crap,but they cannot write Federal Laws.So unless the Feds say you need a DOT number and a log book and a medical card,you dont.

You do realize thats totally absurd dont you?I think where you are wrong is that you are mixing up a Commercial driving law with a different regular driving law for everything else.Whatever you haul,have a bill of sale for whats on the truck.It belongs to you,even if it doesnt.You can haul your own stuff anywhere as far as I know.I dont even think you need a CDL to drive a big rig if you own it and are just moving it as long as you have transfer tags.

If you are crossing state lines and are a Commercial driver then you are subject to a lot more laws,medical card,logbook,DOT number,because you are hauling for money.Moving your stuff is different,unless its so big you need a permit.

Never take what a trucker tells you as gospel,but especially not what a cop tells you.They lie.They lie and try to trick you into admitting you broke a law.You need to know what absolutely is commercial and what isnt.The laws for those things are completely different most everywhere.If you screw up and say you are a commercial driver then its too late.Dont agree with a cop,or answer much except with Yes and No if you know the answer.Get away from them and go on about your business,but dont believe them.Dont admit to breaking some fantasy law they dream up,just say I dont agree.
 
(quoted from post at 21:01:03 05/06/10) You need to read the law.#1 Motor homes do not carry a gross weight desination like a truck and are exempt.#2 Any vehicle that is licensed over 10,000lbs F250 and F350 included are required to have a US DOT number if they cross state lines.In PA if your truck is licensed over 17,000
the driver has to have a medical card and carry a log book.Lots of these laws have been around awhile just not enforced.VA,WVA,MD and PA are enforcing them now.
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You said every vehicle over 10,000lbs. EVERY vehicle has a GVW tag. Stop quoting that you know the law. It is just this type of BS that muddies the water and creates confusion.


Read the LAW below and tell me how by your reasoning that Joe Blow driving a F150 towing a boat is required to have a DOT number.

Pay considerable attention to "Interstate commerce"


[i:350c837570]Commercial Motor Vehicle (49 CFR Part 390.5)

Commercial motor vehicle means any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle:

1. Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, whichever is greater; or
2. Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or
3. Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation; or
4. Is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 49 CFR, subtitle B, chapter I, subchapter C.
[/i:350c837570]

As far as medical PA law cannot decrease federal law. Federal law dictats a medical certificate for a vehicle over GVW or GCW of 10,000 lbs

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regu...faqs.aspx?FAQTypeSub=1010&FaqQ=#question8

Please do not bother responding, your BS is what muddles the entire system of laws (pretending to know what you are talking about).
 
Best advice I ever got was from the trailer sales and service place here, that the break point for enforcement was the dual wheels. Makes it really easy to spot who may need to be stopped and who doesnt. While technically I still need one if I cross state lines in a 3/4 ton it makes enforcement a lot more challenging.
 
I'm not taking anyone's 'word' for it I have a copy of the law and its states plainly ANY vehicle
that crosses state lines that is licensed over
10,000lbs is required to have a US DOT number.
Plus I have a friend with a farm truck that thought he didn't need a US DOT number got caught in the next state went to court was convicted of not having the number and was fined.West Virginia
on I81 has been enforcing this law stricly as of late.
 
(quoted from post at 07:42:08 05/07/10) I'm not taking anyone's 'word' for it I have a copy of the law and its states plainly ANY vehicle
that crosses state lines that is licensed over
10,000lbs is required to have a US DOT number.
Click to expand...

Care to provide a link to that "law"?
 
We don't even have to cross a State line here in Mi. You can check it out here. http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/registration-USDOT.htm
 
It says very plainly Commercial vehicles in the first sentence.If you are not driving a Commercial vehicle what then?I would say you dont need a DOT number.
 
Any Commercial vehicle.Sorry you still are confusing Commercial law with the rest of it.Also you can call FMSCA or OOIDA and they are still going to tell you its a Commercial law.I cant possibly know about those states,and I dont want or need to know about those states because Im probably not going to drive in them.But for your information you should find out.Dont even believe what you read on the internet.Also another good source for some COMMERCIAL law information is the front of an Atlas in case you are crossing a state line after business hours and want to read that information.What you need to find out is what is Commercial and what isnt.

If you consider yourself commercial then go ahead and buy the commercial plates,pay road use tax,file your state fuel taxes,pay commercial insurance rates,have a log book,get your physical card and your drug screen.SEE?If you want to do all of that,and comply to every other thing they say you might as well get a CDL and drive over the road.Haul a semi load while you are at it.The last year I bought my COMMERCIAL license plates I went to Jefferson City Missouri,spent all day,Had to go get a reciept from the IRS where I paid my road use tax of 550 dollars,and paid 2200 dollars just for my apportioned Semi plates.I think just a basic plate for surrounding states was 900 dollars.So your ton truck plates would be guessing for a Commercial plate about 300 dollars.Insurance would be higher,dont know how much,and that filing of road use tax and state fuel tax plus I dont even remember all of it.Seems like you have to have a special permit for West Virginia.You would also need a CDL I just dont know what endorsements,and you would need a Physical and drug screen which then you have to register with a group and take random tests at about 80-100 dollars a time.I had to take that test 3 times in 2 months at one company.They put your name in a hat and draw it out they claim.I told them the last time to put somebody elses name in the hat besides mine because it was costing me a fortune.

You do not say if you consider yourself Commercial or if you think you are Commercial by the law.Now if you have to do all of that commercial stuff wouldnt you think it would be absurd to occasionally cross a state line in a ton truck?I would.Surely you wouldnt need to do all of that stuff,but it would still be a nightmare to do any of it.So I would call somebody that knows before I got on the internet and said all of this stuff.
 
You could be right,but I find it real hard to believe that you have to be a Commercial carrier to haul stuff on a ton truck.I also bet that if enough people would stand up to them,in those states,that that stuff would stop.Agriculture stuff was exempt in the past.Now if its a semi,and he is hauling state to state on farm tags I can see them getting mad about that.Otherwise its something that the cops are trying to get done is what it sounds like.If everybody would take the tickets they get to court and fight them and put it in the newspaper and anything to get them off of peoples backs,they would stop.

The problem here is that this stuff goes on every day.In the commercial world the cops are always coming up with a new scam to try and catch truckers for.Companies fight back.These little guys just pay and they keep on and on until they get some nightmare like this.Fight them.Make them go to court for every one of those stupid tickets they write,and if you loose appeal it until they spend all of their time in court,or what ever needs to be done to make them stop.

Nothing has changed actually.Since the cops were having a hard time catching big trucks,they just switched to smaller vehicles because the poor folks driving them dont have a lawyer on the payroll.
 
Alright then you need to fight them if you get a ticket.You need to make them specify what is commercial and what is not commercial.If you cant beat them in that court appeal it.Also I read about hauling hot rods and pulling tractors as being considered commercial.Yeah well some big shot with a lawyer on his payroll wont pay a fine for something like that.

Im not sure about farm stuff but I doubt that it would stand if you made them specify just what a farmer needs to be a motor carrier for if he is hauling his own stuff.

Then the best thing is get as many people together as you can,go to West Virginias capital,bring a news crew with a TV camera with you,and ask who is responsible for this crap on that highway.It would help to have some of them friendly with your side before you go.All over the place there are politicians who are responsible for this kind of stuff and worse,and they will get it so bad you cant do anything unless you fight back.Usually they are cowardly types who will back down.There are lots of stories about this kind of stuff being fought in the past.

I remember back in 1993 here where I live there was a highway washed out between 2 towns about 10 miles from here.It was a real deep hole next to the railroad tracks and long.Now the only way to do it was get a bunch of trucks and fill it with shot rock,which the truckers did around here.They dragged every truck they could find out of hollers and everywhere and even bought some trucks and the first day before they even started they got the DOT over where they were coming from and told them that they were not going to mess with these trucks.They didnt even have license plates on some of them.They ran them day and night and the DOT left them alone.Yeah its a little different because that was an emergency,but unless you stand up and fight,and convince them that you wont quit,and start making their crap public,they will get worse.You never know it might not even be hard at all to get those cops off of that stretch of road,or at least to stop them for writing tickets for that.I bet a few calls from farmers will get it done,if they call the right person in the State legislature.He might even suggest who is the person behind the problem so then you know who to interview with the news camera.
 
I just looked at the Feds website.I took the test to see if I was a motor carrier that needed a DOT number.4 questions.All answered no.You do not need to register with FMSCA was the answer.So that means you do not need to have a DOT number if you arent commercial.State laws can be whatever but Staes cannot make you have a Federal DOT number if you arent commercial.
 
Hello DH,
He is full of you knoow what! As long as the commercial vehicle is not delivering in a different state, he can pick up and deliver in the same state, without the the ICC number. ICC requirements is for out of state delivery, thats whe you need the ICC# That stands for INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION, If he told you that is a DOT# He really needs to go back to trooper school 101.
Guido.
 
Instead of asking a bunch of guys with limited knowledge of the subject on a tractor board, why not talk to a DOT inspector? Just for kicks a Commercial Vehicle is any vehicle engaged in a commercial enterprise (farming is) with a GVWR or CGVWR over 10K lbs. Simple. You crossed State lines which means you're involved in Interstate Commerce. You have certain Agricultural Exemptions, but you still fall under the FMCSR. DOT numbers? YES. Trucker is WRONG AGAIN.

Do yourself a favor and go to a real live DOT Inspector in your State, ask your questions, get what you need in writing and go with God. Best possible thing you can do. I was DOT Inspector and helped many, many people get on the straight and narrow and to avoid tickets, OOS violations and other problems. I've been out of it for well over a year now and things have changed, but the concept of going to the source rather than listening to internet blowhards in their drug induced rants is just a real poor way to do things. You listen to the blowhards and go with their info and you DESERVE the tickets you'll get.
 
(quoted from post at 03:56:07 05/08/10) I just looked at the Feds website.I took the test to see if I was a motor carrier that needed a DOT number.4 questions.All answered no.You do not need to register with FMSCA was the answer.So that means you do not need to have a DOT number if you arent commercial.State laws can be whatever but Staes cannot make you have a Federal DOT number if you arent commercial.
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I always travel in state but if I decide to buy a tractor for my own personal use (weighs 13k) in the next state over, do I need to get a DOT #?

If so, I guess I could have the tractor dropped off at the state line.
 

Heavy duty- first question is are you in commerce? Are you a farmer or do you in any way profit from the TRUCK you haul the tractor with? Does the truck have a GVWR over 10K or truck trailer combo with a GVWR over 10K? If the answer to those is yes then you are a CMV. If you travel across State lines you are supposed to have a DOT# and depending on what state youa re in you may have to have a DOT# under state law.

Do yourself a favor and go find a DOT Inspector in your state and get your info first hand, in writing and keep it with you. Most Inspectors/police I worked with would give you break to an extent if you were trying to obey the law. The guys that got hammered were the ones who pushed things knowingly. Yeah, I know, not all states have guys like that and your aunts, brothers, girlfriends, dogs former owners cousin in law got a ticket from some dipstick in Podunk, Ar. back in '82. Just try doing it the smart way, it'll pay off.
 
Alright, thanks for the info.

(quoted from post at 14:16:52 05/10/10)
Heavy duty- first question is are you in commerce? Are you a farmer or do you in any way profit from the TRUCK you haul the tractor with? Does the truck have a GVWR over 10K or truck trailer combo with a GVWR over 10K? If the answer to those is yes then you are a CMV. If you travel across State lines you are supposed to have a DOT# and depending on what state youa re in you may have to have a DOT# under state law.

Do yourself a favor and go find a DOT Inspector in your state and get your info first hand, in writing and keep it with you. Most Inspectors/police I worked with would give you break to an extent if you were trying to obey the law. The guys that got hammered were the ones who pushed things knowingly. Yeah, I know, not all states have guys like that and your aunts, brothers, girlfriends, dogs former owners cousin in law got a ticket from some dipstick in Podunk, Ar. back in '82. Just try doing it the smart way, it'll pay off.
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